State Ex Rel. Eastern State Hospital v. Beard

The issue presented in this appeal is whether the District Court erred in ruling that funds derived from a United States Government pension and paid through the Veterans’ Administration are exempt, under the terms of 38 U.S.C. § 3101(a) (1970), from the claim of Eastern State Hospital for the costs of care and treatment of a deceased veteran.

The veteran, Dorothy May Beard Grings, died, leaving one surviving child. Clarence E. Beard, Ms. Grings’ duly appointed and qualified guardian, was appointed executor of her estate and caused statutory notice to creditors to be published. The State of…